Sportshorts for Dec. 31, 2012

Dixon graduate Matt Ross scored five points and had three rebounds for Chicago State on Saturday in an 87-44 loss to No. 10 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.

Ross went 2-for-4 from the field with one 3-pointer in 31 minutes. Quinton Pippen led the Cougars (3-12) with 12 points.

Deshaun Thomas had 17 points for Ohio State (10-2).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Redbirds win final non-conference game

Illinois State (8-4) finished off non-conference play Sunday with a 65-57 win over Butler (7-6) in Indianapolis.

Jamie Russell, a Rock Falls graduate, scored 12 points and had three steals. Brianna Puni led the Redbirds with 17 points.

NBA

Belinelli give Bulls lift off bench

Marco Belinelli, who was relegated to the bench as Richard Hamilton returned from injury, scored 17 points in 33 minutes to lead the Bulls to an 87-77 win over the Wizards on Saturday at the United Center.

Carlos Boozer added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls (16-12).

Jordan Crawford had 16 points for the Wizards (4-24).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

O’Brien tops many NFL teams’ lists

Penn State coach Bill O’Brien is on the short list of several NFL teams that will be looking for a new head coach after the season, according to league sources.

When O’Brien agreed to succeed Joe Paterno at Penn State, he was not aware of the 4-year bowl ban and other sanctions that were to be levied against the program by the NCAA.

GOLF

Jimenez breaks leg while skiing

Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez will be out of action for at least 3 months after breaking his leg in a skiing accident on Saturday, the European Tour said on Sunday.

Jimenez, who will be 49 on Saturday, was named European Tour golfer of the month in November after his victory at the Hong Kong Open made him the oldest winner in Tour history at 48 years, 318 days.

SPEED SKATING

Hansen upsets Davis in 1,500 meters

Long track speedskater Brian Hansen of Glenview scored an upset win over two-time Olympic champion Shani Davis to take the U.S. title in the 1,500 meters Sunday in Kearns, Utah.

Hansen clocked 1 minute, 44.96 seconds to 1:46.65 for Davis, of Chicago, who won silver medals in the 1,500 at the last two Olympics and multiple U.S. titles at the distance